Changing schools in year 5

[LucyA2008]

Hey!
We are relocating further into Kent which means changing my daughter’s primary school when she starts year 5. I am feeling very apprehensive as she has a lovely friendship group at her current school and I’m worried firm friendships will have been made in the new school and the other children may not let her in their groups. Also I know some mums can be funny if a new child starts and it splits a current friendship and even letting a new mum ‘in’! I’d love for her to stay at her current school but the commute would be an hour each way.
Please let me know if you have moved your child in years 5/6 and if your child settled/ you regretted moving them etc.
Thank you all in advance

You have made the decision to move, so embrace it. My family moved several times while growing up, and while it is easy to think of the negatives for children, there are also plenty of positives. Being the new girl can be fun - mostly I found other students to be curious / interested in me and in the preteen and teen years I appreciated the opportunity to redefine myself. I think at that age friendships are on the cusp of evolving, so it is likely that many of todays friendships wouldn’t endure even if you didn’t move. A lot of it is mindset - how does your daughter feel about the move?

Our last move our elder DD was in Yr5. She had no problem settling in.
However you don't tend to get mum friendships at that age... their social lives are becoming unsupervised. And they are at Secondary before you know it. You are more likely to get friends at extracurricular clubs.

I moved schools in year 6 and settled in fine. Had no problems making friends. Can't say anything about what it's like for the parent in the situation as my mom's deaf so didn't really talk to the other moms but I know I was fine

It sounds as though you are planning the move so she starts the new school at the beginning of the school year. I think this will help, a new classroom, a new teacher,a new year, so everyone will be making adjustments and your daughter will be too.

We moved the last few weeks before the end of year 3 and 5. The kids had a few weeks in their old school years before starting 4 &6
The youngest had playdates over the summer holidays. The oldest got swept up into one of the nicest group of lads, who he is still in touch with even tho they are at different Secondaries.
It will be fine.

I moved my daughter (in Kent) at Christmas of Y5. Best decision ever!

Thank you so much for your responses, they have really helped put my mind at ease. I really appreciate it!